Both men looked at each other and then headed toward the connecting door. "Let us discuss this, alone. Waithere."
The space was small but clean, probably a three and half star hotel room, with a full bed and a small window. She refused to move and hoped she could figure out an escape. "Do I have achoice?"
"No." The man with blue eyes slammed the door, leaving heralone.
"I didn't think so," Amy muttered to herself. She raced to the window and unhooked the locks as she stared at the fire escape, which led down to the alley. She tried to lift the frame, but it wouldn’t budge. She used all her might, wondering if it had been screwed shut to keep her prisoner. The blue roof of the palace seemed so close. When would Lucio realize she was gone? She pushed the frame up with the heels of her palms but it wouldn’t move. She folded her hands at herwaist.
The door behind her opened and the two men came back in. Mr. Blue eyes crossed his arms again. "What are youdoing?"
"Looking at the castle." She backed away from thewindow.
They walked toward her and it felt like her heart fell into her stomach. "Plotting anescape?"
She had to humanize herself so they wouldn’t kill her. Amy wiped nonexistent tears from her face. "And where would I go? I can’t marry a man who wishes I was my sister. It might be better if you end my life than send me to thattorture."
The man who would fit into any coffee shop scene said, "You're not what weexpected."
"You paid me to analyze Avce." She dared to gaze at both of them. They had to see her as a victim if she had any chance to get out of this. Her skin no longer felt frozen to the bone from the ice truck, but she felt an electric storm in the air that was probably just hernerves.
The blue-eyed man said, "My father just confirmed thatinformation."
She'd been right. There was a connection. Thank heavens. "Your father was who I met in London? What a cold, rainy day. I offered him a cup of tea, but he’d been in a hurry for the report. I don’t want to return to the palace. Is there any way you can help me return toEngland?"
The blue-eyed man motioned with his head for the second to follow him. "We have to discuss thisfurther."
She reached for her pearl necklace that wasn't there but lowered her head to appear meek. "I'll be here,waiting."
When the men went to the hall, their voices in muffled whispers, Amy slipped the chain on the interior lock on the door. The men heard what she’d done and started to shout and pound on the thinwood.
Amy picked up the lamp on the nearby nightstand and slammed the heavy base into the window glass itself—there was always more than one way to get around a problem. Taking care not to impale herself on the broken glass, she crawled through to the black metal escape and used both hands to get down as fast aspossible.
Wood splintered and she imagined the men breaking down the door but she couldn'tstop.
She made it to the bottom step and jumped out into the middle of the alley, then ran around to the mainstreet.
Footsteps landed in a thump behind her. Adrenaline kicked into gear. She'd have to find help—there was no way she could run all the way back to thepalace.
Like something from a movie, a silver sedan slowed at the corner, the passenger window rolled down and her friend's voice called out, "Getin."
Her chance at freedom. She jumped into the passenger's seat as she heard the male feet thundering toward her. She locked the door and said, "Suzie! I'm so happy you're here. Whose car isthis?"
"It's a rental." Suzie jammed her foot down on the gas pedal, locking all thedoors.
Amy pointed behind them. "The palace is thatway."
"We can't go there." Suzie answered fast and turned a corner away from thehotel.
She stared out the window at the four men who chased her. They stood on the corner she'd left, but stared in all directions. At least the men had no idea where she was. Her heart thundered in her chest. Safe—Suzie had saved her again. "Whynot?"
Suzie's soothing voice held a melancholy note. "Your sister has been in Lucio's room for over an hour when I left the palace. We should head back toLondon."
Lucio and Evie? She flashed back to the library, and her heartache. But no, Lucio had picked her to be his bride when he could have gone back to Evie. She didn’t believe it—it didn’t makesense.
She shrieked when her friend almost hit a man crossing the street. She grabbed hold of the passenger seat and closed her eyes. "Suzie, slow down. You're going awfullyfast."
Suzie said, "You need to besafe."
No. Her skin prickled with alarm. The street might be safer than here. "Pull over and let meout."
